Recently went fishing on a high mountain lake. The water was very clear, and you could watch the fish take the fly. When I would approach some new fish, they would readily take my fly. Once I would catch 1 or 2, they would come up fast to the fly and then turn away as if they knew it wasn't forage. If there were additional insects in the water, they would all be eaten. My question is this. What is the best way to hide the tippet material above the fly. Any help would be appreciated.
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I use a furled leader in which I will add floatant is needed, and then I attach 1' to 6' of fluorocarbon tippet. I prefer it goes subsurface.
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It happens. Just go find some new fish to fool. Those first one or two fish are called Mikey fish, they'll eat anything. Just keep moving you'll be fine.
I don't believe the tippet is what they are shying away from in most cases. The fact that the tippet is too stiff and makes the fly act even more unnaturally than a hook tied to a line will already does is more often the problem.
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"I don't believe the tippet is what they are shying away from in most cases."
In some cases, but tippet can make a difference.
I generally use heavy tippet, but in high mountain I found I "do" need to go smaller. I "do" feel the tippet makes a difference. Light glistening off tippet, Shadow from tippet. I have seen this. But it could be more. One step at a time maybe[cool]
I don't believe fish have that much intelligence, but will react to unnatural.
But I also agree to keep moving and try different flies.[
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Dont be intimidated to go to 7x or 8x its stronger than you think.
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+1 on flygoddess... Furled leader and fluero tippet has been my best luck. Most of the time it's the fly or presentation. I was fishing the green and i would watch the fish come up and snub my cicada. But my buddy next to me was fishing the same pattern but his had no flash and they were all over it. Tippet does make a big difference but it's not always the case. Mix it up and after you pull out a couple fish from one spot, move on.
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[quote sinergy]Dont be intimidated to go to 7x or 8x its stronger than you think.[/quote] what knot do you use to tie on 7-8x? I lose alot on 7x with a clinch knot so I tend to shy away from it.
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For flies the only knot i ever use is the palomar knot, unless its #20 or smaller then I use a davy.
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Awesome, I will try those. Thanks!
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Really?!?! I use 7x and 8x for most of my fishing, except when I know there's a chance of a biggun, and I never lose flies with a double clinch knot.
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I agree with sinergy don't be afraid to downsize to 7x or 8x...all the cool kids are doing it [
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You couldn't pay me to use 8x... Completely unnecessary in my opinion.
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I've always loved a challenge. Using 8x on my 2 weight!! Fun time bro!
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Ha a challenge is good yes! But I would get to frustrated just tying on the dang fly... Props to you my friend!
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I really like the Davy Knot for small flies and light tippets - especially for dries. It's a very small knot, and it may just be that a larger knot is what looks unnatural to a trout. Who knows?
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I got 1 spool of 8x and have had if for almost 3+ years now, I don't use it much but I can say it has caught fish ( Current Creek & Strawberry River ) were 5x & 6x were just getting me the Fin.
Theres a stretch down stream on the Strawberry River just down from Soldier Creek dam were the river dog legs with a pretty cool rock wall in the background. The water puddles up about 3 to 4 feet deep and is super crystal clear. I mean you can literally see the pebbles on the bottom.
I ran into the same situation were Id cast up stream let the fly drift into the run. I could see the fish dart up to the surface then turn centimeters from my fly, this repeatedly happed... The only other tippet size I had was 8x and was at a point were I said fook it lets give it a try. What do you know instead of the fin I started hooking these guys.
Just in my opinion its good to have 7x or 8x for those fook moments were nothing else is working. But you right 8x should be used sparingly
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Smallest I have is 7X fluoro, but smallest I use is 6X. IT'S FLUORO! Invisible! Tie the fly on with a loop so it can wiggle and no need to go MICRO Tippet[
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Plus I prefer Nymphing.[
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To honest with you I don't even know if my tippet is fluoro, Its the Umpqua brand Brown spool white and red label. After closer inspection it says it Nylon ???
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If not fluoro and as you said 3 years old, I would imagine it isn't a good choice to use. They will become brittle.
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I might have to buy some Berkley Nanofil though and check it out. 4lb (5lb) is 0.004 diameter. Same as most 7X. A lot cheaper than tippet.
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